Mark Hapka
Encyclopedia
Mark Hapka is an American
film and television actor who first gained attention for portraying the lead role of the spirit
'Zach' on the Ghost Whisperer
spin-off
Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side. Hapka is most notable for his previous role as Nathan Horton on the NBC
soap opera
Days of our Lives
.
to Robert and Debbie Hapka. (His parents have since divorced and both are remarried.) When Hapka was about 11 years old, his family moved to Rome, New York
. He is a 2000 graduate of Rome Free Academy, and then went on to study music education and voice at Onondaga Community College
in Syracuse, New York
. In 2005, Hapka left Syracuse and moved to Los Angeles, California
. He enrolled in acting classes at Playhouse West and worked in student films, before appearing in a 2006 showcase that won him representation.
's 2007 feature film
Good Time Max, but is best known for his starring
role as the spirit
'Zach' in 2007 and 2008 in the television series Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side and Ghost Whisperer
. He won the role when producers Kim Moses and Ian Sander chose him as a 'fresh face' with an 'It Guy' quality. Following this, he appeared in the television series Greek
and had a minor role on Days of Our Lives
as an older Johnny DiMera. In 2009, he appeared in the films Second Sight and Midgets Vs. Mascots. Also in 2009, he had a recurring role in the television series Hannah Montana
and also appeared on Cold Case. In June 2009, Hapka returned to Days of Our Lives
when he was cast in the contract role of Nathan Horton. Soap Opera Digest reported on January 7, 2011 that he was let go from the show. Hapka has starring roles in the upcoming films The Danny McKay Project, where he portrays the title character Danny McKay, and Beyond the Mat
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film and television actor who first gained attention for portraying the lead role of the spirit
Spirit
The English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...
'Zach' on the Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Whisperer is an American television supernatural drama, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005 to May 21, 2010.The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon , who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts...
spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side. Hapka is most notable for his previous role as Nathan Horton on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
.
Background
Hapka was born in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
to Robert and Debbie Hapka. (His parents have since divorced and both are remarried.) When Hapka was about 11 years old, his family moved to Rome, New York
Rome, New York
Rome is a city in Oneida County, New York, United States. It is located in north-central or "upstate" New York. The population was 44,797 at the 2010 census. It is in New York's 24th congressional district. In 1758, British forces began construction of Fort Stanwix at this strategic location, but...
. He is a 2000 graduate of Rome Free Academy, and then went on to study music education and voice at Onondaga Community College
Onondaga Community College
Onondaga Community College is an accredited two-year educational institution that services Onondaga County, New York at three campuses. Onondaga Community College is a college of the State University of New York system and one of 30 locally sponsored community colleges throughout New York...
in Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. In 2005, Hapka left Syracuse and moved to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He enrolled in acting classes at Playhouse West and worked in student films, before appearing in a 2006 showcase that won him representation.
Career
Hapka had his first credited role in James FrancoJames Franco
James Edward Franco is an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author, painter, performance artist and instructor at New York University. He left college in order to pursue acting and started off his career by making guest appearances on television series in the 1990s...
's 2007 feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
Good Time Max, but is best known for his starring
Leading actor
A leading actor, leading actress, star, or simply lead, plays the role of the protagonist in a film or play. The word lead may also refer to the largest role in the piece and leading actor may refer to a person who typically plays such parts or an actor with a respected body of work...
role as the spirit
Spirit
The English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...
'Zach' in 2007 and 2008 in the television series Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side and Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Whisperer is an American television supernatural drama, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005 to May 21, 2010.The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon , who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts...
. He won the role when producers Kim Moses and Ian Sander chose him as a 'fresh face' with an 'It Guy' quality. Following this, he appeared in the television series Greek
Greek (TV series)
Greek is an American comedy-drama television series, which follows students of the fictional Cyprus-Rhodes University , located in Ohio, who participate in the school's Greek system...
and had a minor role on Days of Our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
as an older Johnny DiMera. In 2009, he appeared in the films Second Sight and Midgets Vs. Mascots. Also in 2009, he had a recurring role in the television series Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana
Hannah Montana is an American television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on the Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real...
and also appeared on Cold Case. In June 2009, Hapka returned to Days of Our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
when he was cast in the contract role of Nathan Horton. Soap Opera Digest reported on January 7, 2011 that he was let go from the show. Hapka has starring roles in the upcoming films The Danny McKay Project, where he portrays the title character Danny McKay, and Beyond the Mat
Beyond the Mat
Beyond the Mat is a 1999 documentary directed by Barry W. Blaustein. The movie focuses on the lives of professional wrestlers outside of the ring, primarily Mick Foley, Terry Funk, and Jake Roberts, as well as some aspiring wrestlers...
.
Filmography
- Good Time Max (2007)
- Current TVCurrent TVCurrent TV, or Current, is a media company led by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and businessman Joel Hyatt. Comcast owns a ten percent stake of Current's parent company, Current Media LLC....
(2007) - Ghost WhispererGhost WhispererGhost Whisperer is an American television supernatural drama, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005 to May 21, 2010.The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon , who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts...
(2007–2008), 2 episodes: "The Gathering", "Deadbeat Dads" - Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side (16 episodes, 2007–2008)
- Days of Our LivesDays of our LivesDays of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
(2 episodes, 2007–2008) as Johnny DiMera - Real Fiction (2008)
- Private High Musical (2008)
- GreekGreek (TV series)Greek is an American comedy-drama television series, which follows students of the fictional Cyprus-Rhodes University , located in Ohio, who participate in the school's Greek system...
(2008), Episode: "A Tale of Two Parties" - The Danny McKay Project (2009)
- Midgets Vs. Mascots (2009)
- Cold Case (2009), Episode: "Jackals"
- Hannah MontanaHannah MontanaHannah Montana is an American television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on the Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real...
(5 episodes, 2009) - Second Sight (2009)
- Days of Our LivesDays of our LivesDays of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
(2009–2011) as Nathan Horton - Beyond the Mat - The Movie (2011)